Finally! Finally something to really write home about. I've enjoyed a fair amount of movies this year, but nothing has blown me away. Until now that is, as Ryan Coogler's newest may just be his finest. Coogler and Michael B. Jordan started their string of collaborations with the crushing 2013 film Fruitvale Station, followed by Creed and the two Black Panther films. That's a pretty impressive four film run to start off a directorial career, but now he has stepped away from real-life events and pre-existing IPs to deliver something ridiculously fresh and exciting.
Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as a pair of twins returning home to 1930s Mississippi after seven years in Chicago. The two have been through war and crime and are looking to put that behind them to open up a juke joint where their friends and family can drink, eat, and dance to the blues. Their opening night seems like a success at first, with crowds of people dancing together, only for the big evening to be interrupted when some unexpected visitors try to join the fun. By unexpected visitors, I of course mean vampires...
This is the kind of movie that reminds you why you fell in love with them. Coogler's vision is one that throws a whole lot at the wall, whether it be the history of Black music, racial tensions in the south, or of course vampires, but he brings everything together with a shocking level of cohesion that leads to something that feels exciting and singular. There are no doubt influences sprinkled throughout, but this is entirely its own and I loved it for that. The first half of the film does an incredible job at setting up the times and different tensions that are still lingering down south, and the second half brings everything to a blood soaked boil.
The choice to make this a period piece makes for some deeply interesting commentary on race and history, but also allows the team working behind Coogler to flex their muscles like crazy. The costumes are all phenomenal, and I loved how the two twins were costumed with small differences that allowed their individualities to shine through. The set design is equally as impressive, throwing the audience right into 1930s Mississippi with an intensely authentic feel. But the real winner here has to be the music. Blues music plays a large part in the film, but the way old school southern blues is melded with Ludwig Goransson's score, which in itself is giving a 30s twang to a more genre focused score, makes for a soundscape that feels like it says something all on its own. There is one scene shot in a long take that essentially brings together centuries of Black music together at once and it is a sight and sound to behold, genuinely one of the coolest things I've witnessed in a movie. The cinematography as a whole is just incredible, this film looks stunning and has some fantastic camera movement throughout.
Michael B. Jordan is always great, but this may be some of his finest work. He plays both roles incredibly well, and despite the two twins being fairly similar, he manages to find the subtle differences in each one that make it always clear who we're following on screen. The film also introduces newcomer Miles Caton as the twins' cousin Sammie. Sammie is given nearly as much time on screen as the twins, and Caton's deep voice and incredible musical skills make him a real standout. Two other standouts from the ensemble are Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku, giving two characters that I loved watching but also just appreciated what they brought to the story. I wish Hailee Steinfeld had a bit more to do but she was pretty great when on screen, and Jack O'Connell as the main vampire has a fantastic sense of charisma to him.
This isn't the scariest vampire movie you'll see, but it really makes it feel like vampires are back in style. It's a wildly ambitious feat that balances tones and ideas remarkably well to deliver something awesome. This is one of the coolest movies you'll see in some time, and one that manages to hit you with some history and messaging while delivering a great time at the movies. Go see this one, go see it on the biggest screen with the loudest speakers, and be treated to what I would consider the clear best of the year so far. 4.5/5
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